That question was soon answered for the New South Wales Institute of Sport rider.

He held off team-mate and his madison partner Jackson Law in the dash to the line with noted sprinter Mitch Bullen third.

“I had to smack it a little bit early, Mitch was there at the end, so I got a little bit scared and jumped,” Yallouris said.

“The wind on the long turn three, it is proving really hard to hold your wheel down, so being first into that corner helped me out a lot.

“I am stoked to come home with the win.”

The wheelrace was the headline act of the Bathurst 200 Open Track Carnival held at the Bathurst Cycling Club’s new velodrome and with a $1,500 purse, it attracted a strong field.

The final of the handicap event was backmarker heavy after the running of the qualifiers. As well as the top five riders from four heats advancing, winners of the graded warm-up scratch races earned automatic qualification as well.

Three Bathurst riders qualified for the six-lap decider, with Andrew Carter (190 metres), Richard Hobson (140m) and Harrison Carter, who was representing St George, part of the quality field.

While the handicap system of a wheelrace is designed to give all riders an equal chance of winning – 285 metres spreading the field – there was little doubt it was the NSWIS riders who were the favourites.

Yallouris and Jackson Law are the national madison champions, with the later on the short list for Australia’s team to attend the Rio Olympic Games.

Scott Law made the trip from London to Bathurst after success in the Revolution Series – the world’s leading track series which includes the likes of Commonwealth Games gold medallist Geraint Thomas. 

Bullen, the current Australian team sprint champion and bronze medallist in the keirin at this year’s Oceania Championships, was also a strong chance off a 40m handicap.

Going off the biggest handicap, Hunter rider Keith Harris had the honour of being the first man to complete the opening lap, but behind him the backmarkers were quick to form a bunch and work on reeling in the leaders.

World Masters champion Gary Mandy worked at the head of the field with Andrew Carter and Michael Cross to try and hold off the chasers and with three laps to go, Mandy decided to solo off the front.

Carter tried to respond but couldn’t stick with him and ended up crossing the line in 13th.

With one lap to go Mandy led by four seconds, and while the Illawarra rider worked hard to stay clear, down the back straight he was caught.

Into the final bend it was Yallouris who led, but Jackson Law and Bullen were close behind.

Law lost his line through the bend and was forced to flick up higher on the track, which in turn forced Bullen off his line. That was to prove telling.

It gave Yallouris enough of a gap to go on and win the Bathurst 200 Wheelrace ahead of Law with Bullen third. Under 19s rider Cameron Scott and Scott Law rounded out the top five, while Harrison Carter crossed the line in seventh.

Mandy came home in ninth and while disappointed his attack did not pay off, he said he was keen to return for another attempt next year.

“Just a little bit more ... we just lost a little bit of speed in the last two laps, but Andrew worked hard and so did Michael, we did everything we could,” he said.

“I just thought ‘Hang on, hang on, hang on’. I did everything I could and just prayed they wouldn’t catch me.

“Oh well, bring it on, next time.”